“When we first heard about the possibility of the National Guard coming, it was almost trauma response,” said Faith Spotted Eagle, Ihanktowan elder, who was present when the word came down. “A lot of people went numb because the idea of the military came in.

“To an average non-Native person, that might feel safe,” Spotted Eagle told ICTMN. “To us, it feels really familiar, and it personally takes me back to the Whitestone Massacre. But we know how to handle these situations,” she said. “We pray. We support and listen to each other, and seek consensus to know that we are safe. We all play a part in deciding what’s best for the people.”

While North Dakota officials are increasing police and military presence in the area, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe maintains that their efforts to protect their water and burial grounds are grounded in prayer and peace.

This has been a peaceful protest on the part of those against the pipeline. Workers for Dakota Access have pepper sprayed and let dogs loose on protesters. There are many images and videos of this happening, yet no one with Dakota Access has been arrested as of yet. Which puts into question, Why was a warrant issued so fast for Dr. Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka, yet the Dakota Access “mercenaries” are still free to injure more peaceful demonstrators.

Ms. Manning continues with:

In a radio address on KLND Radio, Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II encouraged all visitors and supporters to remain peaceful and prayerful.

“Thousands of people, from members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, tribes across the nation and First Nations in Canada, to non-Native supporters in the United States and around the world, have stood in solidarity against the harm and destruction caused by the Dakota Access Pipeline,” Archambault said. “We have stood side by side in peaceful prayer.”

“I am the Keeper of the Sacred Bundle, the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, and I am asking people to pray with us right now. From day one I’ve been doing ceremonies down at the camp, and still, keeping peace,” said Looking Horse.

“We have spiritual people here, and families, and elderly people, and now they’re calling the National Guard in on us after bulldozing over our sacred sites, as the police stood by and watched.

“There are a lot of manmade laws about the environment. We’re in modern times where there are so many laws,” said Looking Horse. “But I’m asking people to do whatever you can to help. I call on all nations of the world to help us. We are people of prayer. We are peaceful people.”

How do you feel about the National Guard being deployed to Standing Rock? Will this help “keep the peace”, or will this escalate an already tense situation? Leave your comments below